GREENWICH, Conn. -- Greenwich businessman and former U.S. ambassador to Ireland Tom Foley announced Wednesday that he will make a second bid at running for governor of Connecticut.

Foley, who was the Republican nominee in the 2010 gubernatorial election, lost to Gov. Dannel Malloy by less than 7,000 votes.

Foley is one of five Republicans who has declared candidacy or is exploring a candidacy for governor. The other are state Senate Minority Leader John McKinney of Fairfield, state Sen. Toni Boucher of Wilton, Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti and Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, who already picked his running mate on Tuesday.

“Connecticut is an extraordinarily beautiful state with a rich history and a strong, diverse, and hardworking citizenry,” Foley said in a statement. “But many people are disappointed and unhappy with what’s happening today in Connecticut.”

His top priority would be to hold discretionary spending flat for two years and, once spending is under control, he would lower the state sales tax rate by half a percent, Foley added in the statement.

The candidate also took a jab at Malloy in his statement, saying, “Unlike Governor Malloy, I spent most of my career in business and I know what it takes to create jobs and I know how to persuade business owners to give Connecticut another chance.”

Foley spent 30 years as a business owner and executive and served twice in government, where he worked for the Department of Defense and Department of State. He served in Iraq in 2003 and 2004, where he was in charge of restoring Iraq’s economy. For his service in Iraq he earned the Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Award. He served in Dublin, Ireland, as U.S ambassador from 2006 to 2009.